Maximizing a Short Visit to Amsterdam, Netherlands
Whether Amsterdam immediately brings to mind fields of flowers, canals and bicycles, the incredible night life scene, or a little of all of those, one thing is for sure — this capital city is full of incredible things to see, do, and eat. Amsterdam is definitely a destination city where one could spend an entire week exploring, and I hope that is the case if you are planning to visit.
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For those who only have a short amount of time to spend in Amsterdam, it is daunting to figure out how to experience the rich heritage and culture without exhausting yourself with a checklist of tourist attractions. I hope I can help because that was the case for my husband and I when we visited Amsterdam in early October. I am excited to share how we maximized our short stay!
Above photo: Amsterdam Canal District
Amsterdam was actually a bonus stop for us. We had planned a trip to Belgium, but is was less expensive and faster to fly into Amsterdam and then take the train into Belgium. Since we were there, we decided to see what we could see before rushing off to Brussels. Everything I’m about to tell you, we accomplished in less than 24 hours. It’s do-able.
The great thing about our short visit was that we were able to get a sense of the region and decide whether we wanted to come back later to spend more time and to see some of the other smaller towns in the Netherlands. The answer was indubitably, “Yes!”
Above photo: Amsterdam historic architecture
So, here we go! This post will cover:
Where to stay in Amsterdam
Where to stay in Amsterdam all depends on your curated list of sights, length of stay, and transportation needs. Naturally, the central historic Canal District and the train station will be priorities for most tourists. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t stay further out. Amsterdam has great public transportation options, Uber service, and, of course, bicycles!
Given our brief stay and early morning departure via train, we decided to stay in close proximity to Centraal Station. We were still within walking distance to everything we wanted to see and do. If you are coming to see the tulip fields or want peaceful surroundings, you may want to look outside the Canal District – and perhaps rent a car.
The Kimpton De Witt Hotel was roughly a 20 minute car ride from the airport and less than a 5 minute walk to the main train station. This is also a great place to stay if you will be bar hopping in the Red Light District or shopping the many boutiques located within The 9 Streets area.
Above photo: Kimpton De Witt Hotel Amsterdam
When we arrived before noon, completely haggard from our long overseas flight, we were delighted to be able to get into our room early to freshen up. The Reception staff at the Kimpton De Witt was very welcoming and made sure we had a walking map in-hand before setting out.
Above photos: Kimpton De Witt Hotel Amsterdam
Ten things to do in Amsterdam
I don’t know how we manage to muster up the energy to pack in a full day after a 10-hour flight with minimal-to-zero sleep. But, we do and I suppose it’s just the adrenaline rush of finally arriving in a dreamy destination after months of planning. So, in consistent form, we hit the ground running as soon as a dropped our bags off at the hotel.
Originally, we had planned to rent bicycles here. After some research and careful consideration, we decided to pass and just walk everywhere. Here’s why: (1) If you don’t know the rules of the road and where you are going, you are a hazard. (2) I wanted to stop frequently and take photos, which is tricky and not always safe to do on a bike in a city environment. (3) We weren’t venturing out so far that we couldn’t manage the distance. All that being said, I still think it is a great idea to consider. Perhaps I’ll try it next time.
Damrack Gingerbread Houses
Our very first stop was Damrack Piers, located a couple blocks from Centraal Station. This is where you can see a row of slightly wonky 17th century canal houses in various shades of brown and red that are fondly known as the Damrack Gingerbread Houses.
Above photo: Damrack Gingerbread Houses
Damrack Piers is also the departure point for many canal boat tours. The opposite side of the piers is lined with street food vendors and souvenir shops. It was pretty busy when we were there mid-day. Even with the crowds, it is easy to stand on one of the piers to get that iconic photo without anyone standing in the way of a perfect view. If you want the place to yourself, my guess is that you’d have to get here pretty early in the morning.
Above photo: Damrack Gingerbread Houses
De Beurspassage
Just a few steps past the Damrack Piers is a nonchalant covered passageway that connects Damrack with Nieuwendijk Street. It is easy to miss so keep your eyes open for the entrance on the north side of the building. Once inside, it is a very glamorous underwater-esque art experience. The 19th century ceiling mosaic and paintings are said to be a tribute to the canals of Amsterdam.
De Beurspassage was a former alley that dates back to the 15th century. It was eventually incorporated into an office building and later a department store, but all was subsequently destroyed by a fire. Alas, the building and arcade were re-built and bedazzled with a new art design as recently as 2016.
Above photos: De Beurspassage
Dam Square
Dam Square is a very busy and large public square in Amsterdam where there is always something going on. It was created in the 13th century as a result of flood control measures and later selected as the building location for the Royal Palace. This grand 17th century building is still used to hold official events. The Dutch Royal Family, however, has taken up residence in Huis ten Bosch Palace in The Hague.
When not in use by the Royal Family as a reception venue, the Royal Palace is often opened to visitors. Check the official Royal Palace website for opening dates and tickets.
Above photo: The Royal Palace in Dam Square
Opposite the Royal Palace on the south side of Dam Square is the National Memorial statue honoring Dutch soldiers and members of the resistance who died in World War II. Other surrounding attractions in Dam Square include Madame Tussauds wax statue museum, the New Church art museum, and the de Bijenkorf department store. Lots to see and do here. Take your pick or simply navigate around the masses of pigeons as you stroll through.
Above photo: National Monument
Munttoren
Continuing our walk down Kalverstraat, we were led directly to the Munttoren, a curious bell tower that seems to appear out of nowhere. The Munttoren was once part of the Regulierspoort, one of the main gates in Amsterdam’s medieval city wall. The structure was almost entirely destroyed by a fire with the exception of the guard house and one of the towers. The tower was later rebuilt and crowned with a spire and carillon of bells, which still play every 15 minutes.
Keep your eye out for a little shop adjacent to the Munttoren called Heinen Delfts Blauw. This pottery store has some really nice souvenirs and delft pottery items you can purchase if you won’t be trekking to the town of Delft itself.
Above photo: Munttoren
Blomstermarknaden
The Blomstermarknaden is the world-famous floating flower market that lines the side of the Singel Canal in the center of Amsterdam. The best view of the stalls from the canal side will be from the Muntplein Bridge. Here you can appreciate the length of the market and how important it is to the horticulture industry of the area.
Above photos: Blomstermarknaden
The individual vendor stalls specialize in bulbs, seeds, dried flowers, fresh-cut bouquets, and other plants. It was wonderful to stroll through the first section of stalls. As tempted as I was to buy a bunch of bulbs to take home, I decided instead to jot down the online ordering information to have them shipped internationally directly to me (and avoid any issues going through Customs when returning to the US). There are no guarantees that you’ll be able to get live plants back safely. Enjoy the moment, take photos, and feel inspired to add some color to your garden when you get home.
Above photos: Blomstermarknaden
Rembrandt Square
Rembrandt Square was a quick but happy stop en route to the Rijksmuseum. It was the first place in Amsterdam that felt like a part of every day life – as opposed to a tourist attraction. Besides the famous monuments of Rembrandt and The Thinker, this square also hosts street artists and craft vendors. The fall feels were trying to make an entrance as the wind picked up some fallen leaves from the ground and circled them around the tables set up by the cafes. My mental picture is so much better than the ones off my camera.
Above photos: The Thinker (left) and Rembrandt Monument (right) in Rembrandt Square
Rijksmuseum
Amsterdam has a thriving art scene and is home to some of the best art museums in the world. We only had time for one. It was a toss up between Van Gogh and Rijksmuseum. We chose the latter for this first visit.
Rijksmuseum is the national museum of the Netherlands dedicated to Dutch arts and history. The building from 1876 is an impressive mix of neo-Gothic and Dutch Renaissance architectural styles and was extensively renovated from 2003-13. Interestingly, the same architect who designed Rijksmuseum, Pierre Cuypers, also designed the city’s Centraal Station.
Above photos: Rijksmuseum
Upon entering the museum, we made a beeline straight to the good stuff. With over 8,000 works of art on display, one could easily spend the entire day here. Fortunately, the museum has consolidated its most-prized Golden Age masterpieces in the Gallery of Honour located on the 2nd floor, including those by Rembrandt, Vermeer and Van Gogh.
Above photos: Self Portrait by Vincent Van Gogh (left); The Threatened Swan by Jan Asselijn (right)
Above photos: Self-portrait as the Apostle Paul by Rembrandt van Rijn (left); The Milkmaid by Johannes Vermeer (right)
Above photo: The Night Watch by Rembrandt van Rijn
Above photos: The Rembrandt Gallery (left); closeup of Militia Company of District VIII under the Command of Captain Roelof Bicker by Bartholomeus van der Helst (right)
It is hard to pick a favorite artist or gallery in the Rijksmuseum, but somewhere close to the top would be the spectacular Cuypers Library, named after the museum architect. Cuypers believed the museum should not be limited to works on display, but a place of learning. Hence, he included the library in his designs. It is the Netherlands’ largest art historical library, containing a collection of around 450,000 objects.
Above photos: Cuypers Library
The gardens of the Rijksmuseum offer visitors an outdoor gallery of sculptures and colorful flowers to be enjoyed on the front-end or back-end of time at the museum. There is a little coffee stand and some park benches where you can relax or stroll for free amid the roses, hedges and fountains.
Above photos: Rijksmuseumtuinen Garden
The 9 Streets
If you love shopping local, ducking in-and-out of quirky boutiques, and snacking your way through the day, The 9 Streets in the Jordaan neighborhood is for you. I thought this area was the prettiest in Amsterdam. Every canal bridge has great views of boat traffic and historical architecture. Even if you aren’t in the mood to go shopping, this is a precious area to really soak in the Amsterdam vibe.
Above photo: The charming streets and bridges of The 9 Streets neighborhood
The 9 Streets specifically refers to the street grid connecting Prinsengracht, Keizersgracht, and Herengracht Streets. Those who are visiting Amsterdam for a longer stay will be able to spend time here without feeling rushed. I felt rushed and didn’t even consider shopping. However, my best canal photos were from our walk through this area. It is not to be missed!
Above photos: The 9 Streets neighborhood
Ann Frank House
Nothing will leave you more emotionally moved than a visit to the Ann Frank House. Please go. Nearly two thirds of today’s youth living in the US are not aware that 6 million Jews were murdered — or they believe the Holocaust is just a myth. It is a heartbreaking, but very worthwhile place to visit while in Amsterdam. I left feeling so many things — and if that isn’t what travel is all about, I don’t know why anyone would bother.
To tour the inside of the Ann Frank House, it is critical to reserve your timed-entry tickets 6 weeks in advance. Tickets sell through quickly and cannot be purchased at the door. The official museum website with complete information is here.
Above photos: Ann Frank House
Canal Boat Tour
A canal boat tour is one of the best ways to learn a little Amsterdam history while seeing the barges and canal houses. We did a wine and cheese (loved the Dutch cheese!) evening cruise with Flagship Amsterdam. My husband will tell you this was his favorite memory from Amsterdam.
Above photos: Flagship Amsterdam Canal Cruise
Our tour guide was full of interesting trivia about Amsterdam. For example, did you know that between 12,000 – 15,000 bicycles are fished out of the canals each year? No? Me neither. We also learned that the hooks at the top of the historic canal houses were used as a pulley system to get spices from the canal-level up to the top of the houses for safe storage. Didn’t know that either!
Above photos: Flagship Amsterdam Canal Cruise
Street food & cafes
Amsterdam has A LOT of unique streetfood options, y’all. We didn’t even sit down for a proper lunch because we were full on snacks and street food that we grabbed during our walking tour. There were a few things I was specifically looking forward to trying, but we ran out of time (and stomach space), such as kibbeling, poffertjes, oliebollen, and bitterballen. But, at least I can speak to a few things.
Fries
“Pommes de terre frites” are a popular street food option. The fries are larger than the fast food type you get in the US and come served with a variety of sauces. Personally, I think that’s the stand-out feature: the sauces. We stopped at Manneken Pis located across from Damrack Piers for our fries and had 20 different sauces to choose from. The serving size was generous. We were warned about the popularity of this legendary stall and that the line would be long. But, it was worth it!
Above photos: Manneken Pis
Stroopwafels
Stroopwafels are a massively decadent indulgence that you can find at various stalls all over Amsterdam. They consist of two flat waffels sandwiched together with caramel and then dipped in chocolate, nuts, candies, and a variety of other topping choices. The Van Wonderen Stroopwafels stand had a line out the door. So, we tried Van Holland Queen’s Stroopwafels next door and had our confections in-hand within a few minutes.
Above photos: Stroopwafels
Haring (Pickled Herring)
My mother used to put a jar of pickled herring in my dad’s Christmas stocking every year as a tradition carried on since his childhood. I remember him letting me try it, and I also remember not liking it. But, I thought I’d give it another go – especially since it is a regional specialty. I was fully anticipating something like sushi, but it wasn’t. It was just awful. So sorry if you are someone who likes it. I would still advocate for trying it when you visit because we all have different tastes. But, l certainly don’t need to do that again.
Above photos: Haring
Sidewalk Cafes
Much like the cafes that line the charming streets of other European cities, Amsterdam also has its own beloved eateries that line its streets and canals. I loved seeing patrons still enjoying the outdoor seating in October. I imagine these places are even busier during the summer months when the sunlight lingers until late.
If you are looking for the best Dutch apple pie – or appeltaart, as it is called – Winkel on Noordermarkt is known to have the best. Of course, the secret is out, so you’ll need to come early or be willing to wait in line for a table since they don’t take reservations. Or, even better, call ahead and order an entire pie!
Above photos: Sidewalk cafes in Amsterdam
Above photo: Canal at dusk
Notes for the next time
As I mentioned earlier, our stay in Amsterdam afforded us the opportunity to understand some of the other things the city has to offer. I know I’ll be back someday, and hopefully during a different time of year so I can experience the seasonal changes. Here is a brief list of some of the things that will draw me back:
- Keukenhof Gardens
- Tulip Festival
- Van Gogh Museum
- Foodhallen
- Vondelpark
- The surrounding small cities, such as Delft, Zaanse Schans, and Volendam
If you have any other suggestions, please let me know in the comment section below. I’ll add them to my list!
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